James a



J. A. WATT. RECEPTACLE CLOSURE. APPLICATION mm nmzzz, 1916.

Patented J 11116 17, I919.

JAMES A. WATT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RECEPTACLE-GLOSURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 17, 1919.

Application filed. June 22, 1916. Serial No. 105,094.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J AMES A. VATT, asubject of King George V of England, and a resident of New York, in thecounty of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Receptacle-Closures, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, whereby any one skilled in the artmay make and use the same.

The invention relates to closures for receptacles where it is desired togive a perfect and a hermetic seal to the receptacle, whether it be ofone form or another. It relates particularly to a closure which may beremoved and re-inserted to close and seal the package or receptacle.

As illustrated and described herein, it is shown in connection with theneck of a bottle, this being an adaptation in use which illustrates therequirements, which are fulfilled, in practically every use to which thedevice may be applied.

The object of the invention is to provide a closure or seal foreflectually closing the opening to a receptacle, at the same time givinga self-contained means for withdrawing the closure.

A further object is to provide a closure with a self-containedwithdrawing means which may be used again and again without impairing ordiminishing the efiectiveness of the closure or stopper.

The device contemplates as one element a stopper, cork, bung or the likewhich may be inserted in the opening of any package to effectually sealand close it. Said element preferably is formed of a resilient materialsuch as cork which, due to its natural characteristics, must have noperforation through it from the exterior to the interior of the packageand which, when imperforate, forms a sufficient seal for any givenpackage.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a selfcontaineddevice which will not detract from the efficiency of the cork or stopperin ordinary use and which will provide a means for withdrawing the corkor stopper from a receptacle Without liability of tearing or disturbingthe structure of the stopper and without liability of abrading orcutting the fingers of the user.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates the stopper in place in a bottle neck with theappurtenant parts for withdrawing the stopper.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, taken in partial section at right angles tothat of Fig. 1, illustrat ng the withdrawing device extended.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the stopper as applied to a bottle, asillustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the stopper and bottle neck of Fig. 1on the line 4-4 of said figure.

Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the gripping member and loop for withdrawingthe stopper.

Fig. 7 illustrates the same gripping memher and loop with an inefiicientanchorage in the stopper by way of comparison with the device of Figs. 1to 6 inclusive.

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating an inefficient structure by way ofcomparison with the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.

It is not a new idea to provide a means for extracting a stopper or corkfrom a receptacle or a bottle. Many devices have been utilized for suchpurpose including the ordinary well-known corkscrew, which must beinserted in the cork or stopper to withdraw it. Such a device must beinserted in the cork or stopper and is not ordinarily an inherentelement and combined part of the stopper or cork.

Corkscrews of various types are ordinarily used and in many instancesare provided with a main shank or section, which must be screwed intothe cork, combined with a ring which may be used as a finger-piece forwithdrawing the cork.

Such devices are objectionable in that they oftentimes pull out of thecork and oftentimes expand the cork to such a degree that it is mostdifficult to extract the cork from the opening which it fills.Furthermore, such a device must be carried as a special adjunct to thereceptacle and, whether its bail or lifting ring is of comparativelythin material or'is flattened out to give a fair-size gripping surface,the objections to its use are apparent. Any such device is ordinarilyscrewed through the cork or closure and thereby gives a vent to theinterior of the package.

The vent or air opening to the interior of the package is very oftensuflicient to cause re-action which would destroy the contents of thepackage. Furthermore, such devices are liable to be misplaced.

Admittedly, it is not new in the art to provide withdrawing meansattached to the stopper but such devices, so far as known, haveobjections. They are either too costly and cumbersome in their structureor are inefficient in use.

It is not new in the art to provide a web or sheet of material which maybe pressed into a cork and which may be held at its lower end by acoiiperating perforation and pin passing through the cork.

It is not new in the art to insert wires or other flexible members intoa cork and through it, then twisting said ends together to form a loopto surround a pin which may be driven in transversely of the cork orstopper.

It is not new in the art to provide an attaclnnent to a stopper in whicha loop or bail is arranged at the outer side of the stopper to form afinger grip.

All devices of the sort enumerated have disadvantages which it isbelieved the present invention overcomes and, as hereinafter defined,the device described not only obviates the objections of devices of theprior art but has features of an unusual character giving advantages notheretofore attained.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the neck of areceptacle which, as illustrated herein, is a bottle, although theclosure is not limited in its use to bottles and similar frangiblstructures. WVithin the neck of the bottle 1, is arranged a closure 2,which, as illustrated, is of the ordinary cork type which may besoftened and inserted to completely seal the neck of the bottle.

Inserted centrally of the cork is a pull member 3, which, asillustrated, is of a flexi ble type, preferably a wire havingsuflicient, substantial strength to stand the strain of pull to extractthe cork or stopper 2.

This wire, as illustrated, is of a loop form. the lower end of the loop4, passing about an anchor-pin 5, which is inserted transversely of thecork.

The two upper ends 6, 7 of the loop are secured to a connecting member8.

The connecting member 8, as illustrated and as conveniently formed,consists of a disk-like member 9, having a central perforation 10, downthrough which extends the pull member 3, terminating in the loop 4.

The disk 9, has struck-up clips 11, 12 through which the ends 13, 14 ofthe pull member extend, and over which they are pressed.

This arrangement forms a convenient and practical means for uniting thetwo ends of the pull member above the cor; or stopper giving a clean.pull member 3, and loop 4., through which the pin 5 extends.

The pull member is of asufiicient length when extended, as illustratedin Fig. 2, to provide a hold for the fingers when placed below the disk9.

Normally, the pull member 3, is bent backward and forward underlying thedisk 9, and pressed close upon or into the upper surface of the stopper,as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The anchor-pin 5, may be arranged very near the bottom of the stopper 2,and in order to prevent tearing away of the stopper, under the pull uponthe disk 9 required to remove it, transverse pins 15, are arrangedprojecting transversely of the stopper and substantially at right anglesto the anchorpin 5, on opposite sides of the pull wire or member 3.

These pins 15, may be arranged at any convenient position over theanchor-pin 5. They must be directly in contact therewith but arepreferably located slightly above said anchor-pin 5, so that there is aresilientbody of material between the transverse members 15, and theanchor-pin 5.

The transverse members 15, form a substantial platform or base againstwhich the anchor-pin 5, will pull when the stopper is drawn, and fromthe arrangement of the anchor-pin and transverse pins, the wholesubstance of the stopper is moved simultaneously.

It has been found desirable to have the pull exerted at the lowermostportion of the stopper and it has been found to be absolutely essentialto pull upon practically the whole area. of the stopper and equalize thepulling pressures throughout said area.

lVhere a single anchor-pin is employed with a pull wire, as illustratedin Fig. 7, there is liability of tearing the cork or stopper when asufficient stress is placed upon the pull wire to remove said stoppr Inthe event of the anchor-pin 0a, of Fig. 7 being located a. little to oneside of its center with reference to the pull wire, a pull sufficient towithdraw the stopper results in tilting said anchor-pin, as illustratedat a). This will either tear through the bottom of the cork or stopperor will cut away a piece thereof and, in any event, it is liable to tiltwhich will free the pull wire and destroy the usefulness of the device.

Itis apparent that the anchor-pins, pull wlre and appurtenant parts mustbe located totally within the substance of the stopper; otherwise, therewill be leakage as illustrated in the diagrammatic view of Fig. 8. Insaid figure, a pull wire is shown as having a loop y, exteriorly of thestopper and with its ends projecting therethrough as at 2. These endsIll) are twisted together and are then pulled back until they impingeupon the anchorpin a). In such a device there is leakage through thestopper, due to its complete perforaition.

In the inventionherein described, there is no perforation through thestopper. here the anchor-pin 5, and transverse pins 15, are insertedtransversely of the stopper, the openings are immediately closed andhealed by the resilient character of the stopper impinging against thewalls of the opening in which the stopper is inserted.

lVith the device described in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, there is noopportunity of the main anchor-pin 5, shifting its position even if itis slightly oil center with. reference to the pull wire 3. This is dueto the overlying platform or base formed by the transverse pins 15. thearrangement described the pull is distributed throughout the area of thestopper, there being six distinct areas of pull over which the strain isdistributed. These are indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 as a, Z), 0, d, e andf, and are efiective owing to the arrangement of the main anchor-pin 5,located medially and transversely of the transverse pins 15.

It will be observed that. a very small perforation is required forinserting the pull wire 3, within the stopper 2, and the anchorpin 5,and transverse pins 15, need only be of a suflicient length to give asubstantial pull over the area of the lower portion of the stopper.

The disk-like joining member for the ends of the pull member 3, forms anample surface to serve as a grip for the fingers, and there are no sharpedges or cutting wires to abrade the fingers.

Machine and means of providing the stopper with its integrally formedeXtract-' ing member is not illustrated or claimed herein but it mayform the subject of an independent application. It may be stated,however, that there are particular advantages of manufacture inutilizing the disk with its clips 11, 12 and central perforation 10,inasmuch as the pull wire may be forced downward through the perforation10, into the stopper, to form a loop l, through which the pin 5,projects.

The central perforation has a further advantage in that it provides ameans for introducing an ordinary corkscrew or other implement in caseof disarrangement of the parts which would prevent the use of the pullwire. The disk 9, may also serve as a marker or tag for indicating themanufacture of the goods to which the stopper is applied.

It is particularly essential in many compounds and substances in dailyuse, that there be a complete closure for the receptacle, with means forreadily removing the It will be observed that with stopper or closureand maintaining it in an imperforate condition so that it may bereinserted. This is particularly true in household articles such asammonia,dioxygen, listerine and other materials which deterioraterapidly if there is leakage through the stopper. The device hereindescribed may be used with impunity and may be removed and re-insertedwithout any danger of causing leakage. There is p *actically noliability of tearing the stopper through undue local and improperlydistributed strains, and the device may be removed and inserted againand again without apparent deterioration. The pull member or wire 3, mayreadily be re-folded and pressed down against the surface of the stopperunder the disk 9, when the stopper is inserted to close the receptacle.

It is apparent that the device might be modified as to its detailswithout departing from the spirit or intent of the invention, whichcontemplates locating a pull wire or device within a stopper andproviding an anchor in conjunction with cooperating members which willprovide a pull upon substantially the whole area of the cork or stopper,said elements combined with a grip or finger member as described.

There are particular advantages in the structure when used withcomparatively thin stoppers such as employed in large neck bottles andthe like, among which might be mentioned bromo-seltzer, and aperientsalts of various characters which very soon lose their efficiency ifsubject to the oxidization of the air.

One very essential advantage of the struc ture resides in the looseconnection of the pull wire with the connecting member 9. The ends 13,14: of the pull wire pass under and are bent over the attaching pointswhich, as illustrated, are shown as clips 11, 12. This gives freedom ofmovement to the pull wire. This loose connection permits tilting of thegrip member without liability of placing undue strain upon the wire atits points of connection therewith. It obviates the forming of shortangles and kinks in the pull w1re and permits development of an evenstrain from the grip member 9, to the wires when withdrawing a cork.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A closure having a body-part, a centrally disposed pull member in theform of a loop extending into the central portion of and inclosed by thebody-part, an anchor therefor extending transversely of and in closed bythe body-part and passing through the loop of said pull member, and aseparate grip member to which the upper separated ends of the pullmember are secured.

2. A closure having a body-part, a pull member of loop form extendinginto said body-part centrally thereof and having at its lower end aloop, an anchor-pin passing through said loop and located wholly withinthe body-part of the closure, a separate grip member and means forsecuring the two ends of the pull member to said grip member, said pullmember being flexible and normally folded below the grip member andagainst the upper surface of the body-part.

3. A closure comprising a body-part, a pull member having a loop whichis pro jected into said body-part, a transverse anehor-pin locatedentirely within the bodypart and extending through said loop, a separategrip member exterior of the body-part and connected with the ends of thepull member, and means for distributing the strains of the anchor memberthroughout the area of the body-part, said means preventing tilting ofthe anchor member.

4. A closure comprising a body-part, a pull member having a loopextending into said body-part, a transverse anchorpin extending throughsaid loop, a pull member exterior of the body-part and connected withthe grip member, and means for distributing the strains of the anchormember through out the area of the bodypart consisting of transversemembers arranged in said bodypart above the anchor member and on bothsides of the pull member.

5. A closure consisting of a body-part, a loop extendingcentrally intosaid body-part, an anchor-pin extending transversely of the body-partwithin the loop, said loop having ends extending exteriorly of thebody-part and a transverse connecting plate forming a grip member andconnected with the respective ends of the pull member, whereby freedomof action is provided between the loop and grip member and an evenstrain is produced upon the anchor by the loop as the closure iswithdrawn.

6. A closure consisting of a body-part, a pull member comprising a loopextending into said body-part and joined therewith by a transverseanchor member, a disk arranged exteriorly to the end of the body-part,said disk having a central perforation and holding clips on oppositesides thereof, said clips forming anchorage for the respective ends ofthe loop.

7. A closure consisting of a body-part, a flexible pull member extendinginto said body-part, said pull member being in a single piece with itsends exterior to the closure and its central portion forming a loopwithin the body of the closure, an anchor extended into and inclosed bythe closure and projecting through the loop, a disk overlying the end ofthe closure and having a centra l perforation through which the outerends of the loop project, clips struck up integral with said disk onopposite sides of its central opening and through which the ends of theloop project, said clips securing though giving adjustable freedom ofmovement to the loop.

8. A closure consisting of a body-part, a flexible pull member extendinginto said body-part, said pull member being in a single piece with itsends exterior to the closure and its central portion forming a loopwithin the closure, an anchor passing through the closure and the loop,a disk overlying the closure and having a central perforation throughwhich the outer ends of the loop project, clips struck up integral withsaid disk on opposite sides of its central opening and through which theends of the loop proj ect, and transverse members inserted in saidclosure above the anchor member at right angles thereto and on oppositesides of the pull member, whereby the strain upon the closure isdistributed.

9. A closure having a body-part, a centrally disposed pull member ofloop form anchored therein and with its ends extending above the closureand separated to engage a connecting grip member, said connecting gripmember loosely holding said ends against withdrawal and providingflexibility of movement between the pull member and each end of the gripmember.

10. In combination with a closure consisting of a body-part adapted tobe inserted in the opening ofa receptacle, of a pull member comprising aloop extending into said bodypart and anchored therein againstwithdrawal, the ends of said loop extending beyond the body-part, a gripmember having a central perforation through which both ends of the loopextend, and clips 011 opposite sides of said perforation providing asecuring means for preventing withdrawal of the ends of the loop membersfrom the grip member, said clips providing certain freedom of movementbetween the loop ends and grip member.

11. A closure comprising a body-part, a pull member extending into thebody-part, an anchor-pin extending transversely of the body-part andengaging the pull member, members extending transversely of theanchor-pin and located in the body-part above said pin and on oppositesides of the pull member, and a grip for said pull member.

JAMES A. WVATT.

WVitnesses:

Bnssm ABRAMsoN, JOSEPH J. DOUGHERTY.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

